Tigers ask for Spanish rain check

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MELBOURNE Tigers have had to turn down an invitation to play up
to 10 games in Spain next month because National Basketball League
commitments stop them sending their best team.

The club briefly considered sending development players
bolstered by Americans seeking professional jobs in either Europe
or Australia, but decided it was not worth jeopardising future
invitations if the scratch team was not competitive.

The paid tour, organised by Action Basket Europe, was to pit the
Tigers against Spain's top clubs as they prepared for the Spanish
and Europe-wide leagues.

"It was too short notice to send a competitive team," said
Tigers' director Seamus McPeake.

"We'll ask them to keep us in mind for next year, or during the
post-season."

Melbourne, which started the Australian league with a thumping
102-61 win over another championship contender, Wollongong Hawks,
at the weekend, has three games scheduled against other top teams
 Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers and Townsville Crocodiles
 in the first 10 days of next month.

This season started a month earlier than last because it has to
finish early to accommodate the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in
March, but if the next season reverts to the old starting date and
the Tigers are given a first-round bye, they could use such a trip
as their main pre-season preparation.

McPeake said it also could be a recruiting tool and a
team-bonding exercise to compete against some of Europe's top teams
in the final stage of their pre-season.

The Tigers, Australia's best-known team, already have a strong
Asian link set up by former coach Lindsay Gaze.

They have two tours to China each year, Chinese sponsorship and
their games are shown on Chinese television.